The Burmese Python (Python molurus) is native to south and southeast Asia, and is very
popular in the international live animal trade. A burgeoning invasive
population of these snakes, likely originating from released pets, is now
present and expanding in the greater Everglades ecosystem. This population is
continuing its northward expansion at a rapid pace, and has already moved well
beyond the boundaries of NPS lands. The recent discovery of a Burmese Python
on Key Largo containing two ESA-listed Key Largo woodrats implies that the
python is able to cross saltwater, and may threaten to colonize the rest of the
Florida Keys. While the existence of high-density populations of a
large-bodied invasive predator is of obvious conservation concern, only slight progress
has been made towards development of appropriate control tools for Burmese
Pythons. Multiple state and federal agencies have expressed the urgent need
for control tool development, with several requests for assistance from
Everglades National Park and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For over two
decades, the USGS Brown Treesnake Project has focused on development and
operational assessment of control tools for invasive snakes, and is thus a
logical choice for development of control tools for invasive Burmese Pythons.
This project will focus on designing and assessing the efficacy of several trap
types for capturing Burmese Pythons, with the goal of applying results to
control of pythons in Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Monument,
Key Largo, and elsewhere.

Specific
Relevance to Major Unanswered Questions and Information Needs Identified:

This study was
originally initiated in response to an urgent request from U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service - Endangered Species Division (contact person: Sandra
Sneckenberger, phone 772-562-3909) and the National Park Service (Everglades National
Park, contact person Skip Snow, phone 305-242-7827) to develop traps and other
control tools for estimating python population size and initiating python
control efforts in south Florida. These invasive snakes may have major
detrimental effects on many state- and federally-listed vertebrate species that
are suitable as prey for pythons. For example, Key Largo is home to two
endemic ESA-listed small mammals (Key Largo woodrat and Key Largo cotton mouse)
that are potentially vulnerable to invasion by pythons, and several pythons
containing Key Largo woodrats have been found on Key Largo thus far. By
initiating control efforts on Key Largo as well as conducting trap efficacy
trials and control efforts in mainland habitats with higher densities of pythons,
this study will result in a more robust sample size of captured snakes,
facilitating more rigorous data analysis and prescriptions for python control
with respect to trapping.

This study
supports the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan goal of restoring
Everglades ecosystems by control and removal of invasive species.

This study addresses several science objectives in the USGS Science Plan in Support of Everglades Restoration. Primarily, this work is concentrated under Goal 2B "Restore, Preserve, and Protect Natural Habitats and Species - Ecological Indicators." Specifically, results of trapping efforts, combined with existing data from NPS, USGS, and U. Florida, will help establish baseline estimates of population size and demographic profiles of Burmese Pythons in areas selected for intensive trapping. These estimates can be used for future monitoring programs (2B-SG3), and will guide development of such programs for evaluating restoration success (2B-SG4).

The proposed
project responds to needs stated in the BAA and DOI Science Plan for research to develop effective control methods for exotic aquatic vertebrates, for research into the life history of non-native species, and to determine impacts of exotic species on native species on federally managed lands. Specific projects that could affect the ultimate distribution and abundance of pythons in southern Florida include the Combined Structural and Operational Plan (CSOP) for modified water deliveries to Everglades National Park and Decompartmentalization of Water Conservation Area 3 (Decomp).

Potential
Impacts: As do other non-native aquatic species, Burmese Pythons present a
potential threat to successful ecological restoration of the greater Everglades
(NRC 2005). Pythons are now established and breeding in South Florida, with nearly
1,000 individuals captured thus far and an estimated detection probability of
~1%, indicating the probable presence of tens of thousands of pythons. Python
molurus has the
potential to occupy the entire footprint of the CERP, adversely impacting
valued resources across the landscape. The results of this project will be
applied to develop a comprehensive, science-based control and containment
program. Information and methods can also be used in adjacent areas such as
Big Cypress National Preserve, South Florida Water Management District lands,
and Seminole areas.

Status: Ongoing

Recent Products:

Results of work supported by GE PES were presented by
Reed and/or Rodda at the following meetings:

Reed and/or Rodda also wrote a
number of research protocols, summaries of needed research for python control,
and similar documents at the request of cooperators/clients (these are
available on request)

Funding from
GE PES also allowed Reed and Rodda to travel to FL and gain information that was
vital during preparation of a large (~485 pp) risk assessment of multiple
species of giant constrictors as potential invasive species in the United
States (report is currently being reviewed).

Planned Products:

Progress
(semi-annual) and final (annual) reports.

Datasets
provided to funding agency at completion of study.

Journal
articles to be submitted for peer review in scientific journals.

A report
summarizing the state of knowledge of available means of detecting, capturing,
and reducing populations of introduced giant constrictors in the U.S, including
relative efficacy of traps vs. alternative control techniques, implications for
management of Burmese Pythons as well as other invasive giant constrictors and
ESA-listed species, and directions for future development of control tools (to
be delivered at the conclusion of this 3-year effort)

Rodda and Reed (PI's) have provided science support and technical assistance to nearly all aspects of research on invasive Burmese Pythons in Florida over the past few years. Our primary cooperators/clients have been NPS, FWS, SFWMD, and U. Florida. Our contributions have spanned trap development, detection tools, risk assessments, snake ecology, and other fields, but this narrative will primarily address trap development. In pursuing this project we have been informed by our experience developing traps for invasive brown treesnakes on Guam, as well as by fieldwork and capture techniques for a wide variety of additional reptile species - as an example, brown treesnake trap capture success increased by roughly two orders of magnitude due to extensive USGS trap trials by Rodda.

In FY08, GE PES funding allowed us to pursue several science projects in ENP and environs. We proposed erection of a 10'x10' shed at ENP, in which trap entrance designs could be systematically tested using pythons collected from the field. The shed was erected by cooperators and a limited number of research trials were conducted in FY08. We anticipate that sample sizes will increase now that the bugs have been worked out of this novel experimental arena, and we have plans for some specific trials in the shed. For example, we received funding from FWS to produce prototype metal traps in FY09 and we intend to film the responses of pythons in the shed to variations of these prototypes before settling on a final design for deployment. In FY08 we also provided technical assistance to cooperators on construction and deployment of python traps in mainland areas; we consider this a high priority, but progress towards this goal has been limited. Developing traps for pythons is a relatively new and unproven endeavor that involves a wide variety of cooperators, and the construction, deployment, and checking of large traps requires a lot of labor. We are also limited by availability of snakes for research trials; unlike brown treesnakes on Guam, which can be collected in decent numbers virtually any night of the year, collecting pythons in Florida is highly seasonal, and there are a number of competitors for collected snakes (for necropsies, for radiotelemetry work, for USDA experiments in Gainesville, etc). We plan to use GE PES funds to construct, deploy, and test additional mainland traps in FY09 and in out-years so as to demonstrate our commitment to amassing a trap-success dataset in occupied habitat. Finally, NPS and UFL personnel have recently constructed a 1-ha enclosure at ENP to hold a number of pythons, and this enclosure is intended as a semi-natural habitat for additional trap trials and other aspects of python biology and control. We intend to actively participate in the design of these trials.

During FY08,
funding from GE PES was vital to allowing Colorado-based PI's to spend time
with our Key Largo staff and other cooperators and to pay PI salary for time
spent writing documents described below, as FWS funding does not include any
money for travel. Our project on Key Largo allowed significant progress in the
following areas:

Identification of suitable
mainland locations for trap deployment in areas with existing Burmese Python
populations, especially along the US-1 corridor and other obvious invasion
pathways to Key Largo.

Initiation of intensive
fieldwork to detect and control an incipient population of pythons on Key Largo
using alternative detection methods (visual surveys, road surveys, etc.)

The main
objective of this study for FY09-FY11 is to develop and rigorously test a
variety of possible control tools for Burmese Pythons in the greater Everglades
ecosystem. As traps are the primary tool used in snake control efforts
worldwide, we will focus on developing an effective trap via largescale
replicated trap trials in mainland Everglades habitats (see attached sub-proposal
for background on trap development and an outline of the first of these
proposed trials).

Another goal
for FY09 and out-years is to increase the frequency of communication with
cooperators. Towards this end, we are excited about the addition of a new USGSPI in south Florida (K. Hart), as this will foster more effective communication with cooperators and better coordination between PI's based in FL and CO. By fostering a more effective partnership, we can more effectively pursue our shared goal of expanding trap testing sample sizes, both on the mainland and in controlled trials in ENP. Meanwhile, we have been learning quite a bit about the operation of python traps via our FWS-funded project on Key Largo, which has as its goal python control in support of ESA-listed rodents. Findings from Key Largo, including means of excluding non-target species and ways to increase trap durability in harsh climates, will be incorporated into all mainland trap development efforts.

Our specific FY09
goals include the following:

Support
the construction and deployment of at least 30 python traps for use in
mainland trap testing, to demonstrate our commitment to increasing sample
sizes of trap testing trials

Initiate a mainland trap trial (~6,000 trap-days; see
attached sub-proposal) for invasive pythons in the Frog Pond area,
focusing on assessing efficacy of several trap designs (this trial will
carry over into the next FY)

Field-test at least three variations on trap designs to
assess relative efficacy

Offer
technical assistance and invasive snake expertise to efforts involving the
trap-testing shed and 1-ha enclosure (to the extent possible given labor
considerations - the field trap trial above will take precedence
over other activities).

Interact
regularly with Kristen Hart to integrate USGS efforts on invasive species
in South Florida and present a USGS consensus on research priorities to
cooperators, clients, and policy makers

Pursue
more detailed and more frequent communication with cooperators from NPS
and UFL so as to result in quality science products, including institution
of regular conference calls and formal proposals for projects with input
from all cooperators

Work
with cooperators to increase the rate of publication of science products
relating to invasive pythons and their impacts on South Florida ecosystems

Be available to cooperators for consultation, proposal
preparation, manuscript review, and other needs related to maintaining
high quality scientific guidance for python research and control

Spend
at least 30 PI-days in Florida

Our
plans for out-years include the following:

FY10:

Complete first mainland trap trial (see above), as well
as analysis and completion of a report to funding agencies

Initiate a second mainland trap trial with
collaborators (~10,000 trap-days), site TBD, with experimental design
guided by results of first trap trial

Field-test at least three new variations on trap
designs to assess relative efficacy

Collaborate with cooperators to produce at least one
manuscript on pythons for submission to a peer-reviewed journal

Be available to cooperators for consultation, proposal
preparation, manuscript review, and other needs related to maintaining
high quality scientific guidance for python research and control

Spend
at least 35 PI-days in Florida

FY11:

Complete second mainland trap trial, analysis and
publication of results

Apply trap improvements resulting from FY09-10 field
trials to deployed traps anywhere in the range or suspected range of
introduced giant constrictors

Produce a report summarizing the state of knowledge of
available means of detecting, capturing, and reducing populations of
introduced giant constrictors in the U.S, including relative efficacy of
traps vs. alternative control techniques, implications for management of
Burmese Pythons as well as other invasive giant constrictors and
ESA-listed species, and directions for future development of control tools

Be available to cooperators for consultation, proposal
preparation, manuscript review, and other needs related to maintaining
high quality scientific guidance for python research and control

Collaborate with cooperators to produce at least two
manuscripts on pythons for submission to a peer-reviewed journal

Spend at least 35 PI-days in Florida

Specific
Task Product(s):

The main focus of this study will be development and testing of traps
and other control tools for invasive Burmese Pythons in the greater Everglades
ecosystem and elsewhere. Secondary goals include providing scientific guidance
on snake ecology and invasive species control tools, as well as Results will be
reported in technical reports, fact sheets, scientific and public presentations
and/or peer reviewed publications (see SOW by FY, above, for examples of
specific products). The data from this study will be used to plan control
efforts for Burmese pythons, and will provide baseline information on
population size and structure in the areas where traps are tested. Data from
this study will also be useful for the development and validation of other
detection methods and traps for Burmese Pythons as well as other species of
invasive giant constrictors (e.g., Green Anaconda, Yellow Anaconda, Boa
Constrictor, etc).